Me On A Monday - December 28th

 

Good Morning - I hope that everyone had a good Christmas, in spite of restrictions & recommendations to stay home. 

We had snow fall on Christmas Eve & it continued to snow until Boxing Day - a total of about 30cm of snow, it's very pretty & made for a classic Christmas card look, but now it's enough. 

Another thing we had happen on Christmas Eve day was a main water line in the village broke.  It was about an hour before the water was turned off, which in turned severely damaged the road. The power of water amazed many & thankfully the temperatures were above freezing. Water to all the homes in the village was not turned back on until mid day Christmas Eve day & the all clear to use for drinking and/or cooking wasn't given until Christmas Day about 2ish.  The road through the village is still closed until repairs can be made on Tuesday.  Not far from where the pipe broke is a bridge over the river through town & they had to bring out structural engineers to verify that the main structure of the bridge was not damaged by the water.  Thankfully it received no damage.

Ontario went into a fairly tight lock down on December 26th - which put a full stop to in person Boxing Day shopping.  Southern Ontario will be in a 28 day lock down & northern Ontario a 14 day lock down.  

I am fighting my own urges to follow tradition & have all Christmas put away for New Year's Day, but this year I think my mood requires a little longer for the twinkle & some lingering Christmas magic.  What about you?  Christmas away already or is it still a welcome guest in your home?

And now the rush is to New Year's Eve & New Year's Day, although unlike Christmas, no gatherings allowed.  I am not totally sad to say good bye to 2020, there were some gifts but this year is definitely one I'd like to see in the rear view mirror.  I know that not a lot will magically change January 1st, especially regarding the pandemic & COVID-19, but come on 2021 be the year to shove 2020 into our distance memories.  In a good way that is.

 I won't be posting any wisdom this Wednesday, so I'll take the opportunity now to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  Thank you for being here at my blog, I appreciate you taking the time to read & comment.  I raise my glass of cheer to the quick distribution of the vaccine & a renewal of hugs & handshakes.  Please, 2021 be kind.

A Happy New Year

Grant That I May

Bring No Tear To Any Eye

When This New Year

In Time Shall End,

Let It Be Said I've

Played The Friend, Have

Lived& Loved& Laboured Here,

And Made Of It A HappyYear.

                                                                         ... Edgar Guest 

Wisdom - Christmas Under the Tree

 

 

 It's not what's under the tree, but who is around it.

 

my two little fur elves, even being naughty make my heart happy.

Happy Christmas To All

 

Me On Monday - December 21st

Welcome to the official arrival of Winter.  Old Man Winter arrived in this part of the world at 5:02AM.  This is one seasonal guest I am not happy to see; "here's your hat, what's your hurry".

In the midst of all the hustle & bustle of Christmas, I took some time to attend to Eileen's WPSH list.  If you haven't seen the list, you can check it out here at her blog site: Bracelet of Days - Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt

 

These are my first finds for the search:

# 1 A Set of Three: what better 3 than the Three Wise Guys I made in ceramics class many a year ago.

 #5 A Treasured Item: This must be a treasured item because I have never unboxed it. I believe it was bought as a gift but I cannot remember for who.  This year, I'm gifting myself the Christmas mug, with lid.

#9 Weather Conditions: My footprints in freshly fallen snow.  This is so Canadian of me

#10 Work In Progress:  Some of the new items in my already too much, Christmas scrapping stash.  Ideas abound for layouts, just waiting for the photos in the lost Christmas mail.

 #13 Something Beginning With C:  Canadian Geese, on mass at one of our favourite parks.  These Canadian Geese produce a lot of something that also starts with C.

#18 Something You Do Every Day:  Feed my fur girls, it's the first thing I do every morning & last thing at night.  

This is Smoke ensuring I've put the correct food & the right amount into the bowls. Each bowl has a different type of crunch cat food; the one Smoke is eating is the Oral Care to keep their teeth in tip top shape & condition.  Thankfully they love it.

 #20 Marking Time:  At this time of year it's all about the count down to December 25th via the Advent Calendar.  I made this clip board Advent Calendar.  The beautiful crocheted Christmas Tree was from a friend, who's talents are shared with me.

Alt A. In Pieces:  This is Rudy the Reindeer, who for storage purposes is easily disassembled but thankfully goes back together quickly.  This wooden reindeer was made for me by a lady I rode with & I use to take care of her horse when she was away.  She has since passed away, so it could also work for #5.

 

 

Rudy assembled.

 

I'll finish today's post with a quote, that is the opening for my 2020 December Reason Why page. For me, it sums up what I need to remember about Christmas, during lock down restrictions.  Some moments I can focus on the joy in our lives, some moments I struggle like a whiny 3 year old.  I'll say no more ...

"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."   

Russell M. Nelson

 

Wisdom - Christmas Gifts

 

 

 

May no gift be too small to give, nor to simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.    ...L.O. Baird

 

Me On A Monday - December 14th

 

Greetings & Good Morning All. 

Currently Recovering: Mr Man & I had our Flu Shot. We have been waiting for over two months for our pharmacy (chemist) to receive a new lot of the vaccine.  The need this year was greater than anticipated.  I hate needles so I won't say yeah, but I hate illness & after last year's "Great Sickness" I was quick to sign up for the Flu Shot.  What about you?  Did you get the Flu Shot this year?

Source: Internet

Currently Gifting: My walking friend gave me an ornament that her sister makes for her Esty store.  What do you think?  Cute?

Currently Reading: nothing, I'm waiting for several books to clear quarantine at the library along with two DVDs. 

One of those books is Mr Dickens & His Carol. Which is described as "a charming comic poignant story about the creation of the most famous Christmas tale every written."  It's a good read, I hope, & keeping with the situation ... a fun read.

Source: Internet

As we just celebrated the 3rd Sunday in Advent, I'll leave you with this thought ... Advent means expectation.  Let's think about the expectation of hope as the new COVID-19 vaccines rolls out across the world.

Wisdom Wednesday

 This week's wisdom quote is one I have seen on a few Christmas sites & all take credit for it .. no matter who said it first, I think it's a very good reminder especially since I also read that 6 out of 10 Christmas shoppers are trying to out-gift their friends or family members.  To me that is very sad.

 

It is 

A celebration

Not

A competition

 

 

Me On A Monday - December 7th

 Ho Ho Ho & Good Morning Everyone.  18 days to go until Christmas Day - I am already feeling the need to dig out that pause button. 

Currently Adding:  this new ornament to the horse tree. It's Santa riding a dressage horse - dressage is the equestrian discipline I am part of.

Currently Sorting A Mix Up:  Earlier in the week I helped with the promotion of my church's online bazaar efforts & I sold two baskets - yeah.  One of the ladies that is allowed to go into the church at any time is responsible for getting the sold baskets wrapped & out to people.  I sent her the basket numbers along photos of the requested baskets & offered to deliver to the purchasers.  I ordered #2 Basket & #5 Basket.  So far these are the only two baskets sold.

Basket #2: quilted Christmas tea cozy; Christmas Eve & Christmas Morning & Stash teas, 2 reindeer mugs, a cookie plate & napkins. 

Basket #5: Santa Claus; crackers; quilted stockings; mug, tags, napkins, plate, tags, battery candles & an ornament in a cloth basket.

When I picked up at the church, both baskets were wrapped so I couldn't easily identify what I was given.  Turns out what I delivered was #1 Basket, & #2 Basket not #5 Basket.  The #5 Basket purchaser was NOT happy with Basket #1, so I had to refund her the money, which I was not really budgeting for.  It's for church & I really don't want to upset the lady looking after the baskets, so I've kept.

Basket #1 (which is nice): trivet, 2 mugs, Christmas Eve & Christmas Morning Stash teas, napkins. 

I've taken basket #1 apart & made into three smaller thank you gifts. The teas & mugs one gift; snowman trivet (I'll put chocolate treats on it) & napkins another gift & I'll purchase a plant to put into the tin snowman basket.  There shopping done!

Currently Learning:  I will be playing Zoom bingo this Wednesday morning in the wrap up of my bible study group.  I've never played bingo.  I cannot believe the excitement of some in the group.   

Currently Crafting:  I've made lots of cards & this year I will be sending not only to my family & friends, but 13 to seniors living in a senior's residence who because of the lock downs in their area (near our nation's capital city of Ottawa) won't be able to see family over the holidays.  I've also made 6 cards to send to folks serving overseas in the Canadian military as I did last year.  This is a sampling of some of the cards I have been making.

Currently Very Tired, I am having great difficulty staying asleep - I wake about 3am & begin to toss & turn, then my mind begins racing.  If I try to have a nap in the afternoon, then I cannot fall asleep that night.  I know some of you have shared sleeping woes ... any solutions, does it just work itself out?  I've read that collectively the world population are experiencing more vivid dreams since this pandemic began.  Now this I believe gives rise to the theory of collective energy.  I'll say no more for now.

I hope everyone has a delightful week ahead, for me I have a few more cards to make & reading up on bingo rules ...

Wisdom - The Sarcastic Kind

 

Some people should use gluestick instead of  chapstick.

 

 

Caring Is Sharing For December

 

The link for the Kindness Calendars is here: Action for Happiness

Me on A Monday - November 30th

 Hello & Good Morning.  The last day of November 2020.  I am not sure if I'm happy that it's already November 30th because then tomorrow is December 1st & out side lights can go on, or am I sad that another month ends which brings us closer to the end of 2020 - another year gone.  Well, not to spend too much time pondering that, let's make the most of the day.

I spent a lot of the weekend getting Christmas things out of boxes & into place of pride.  I really like my Santa collection & it is one of the first things I put out.  I got everyone on board with a few staged Christmas photos. Everyone putting on their best "elf" smile.  I send my photos out for printing at the end of each month & I've got some layout ideas I am just itching to try, so I need those photos now rather the end of December.

Someone in the neighbourhood, a few streets over, had her inflatables out & up earlier this month.  She is one of the few that has inflatables that keeps them inflated 24/7.  Many people only power them at night so in the day time they look like bedraggled carcasses on the lawn.  My photos are "Night & Day".  IMO, Some things just aren't better in the light of day ... I'll say no more.

 And of course yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent.  Our church also celebrated the official completion of work making our church building accessible for all.  We received a government grant in 2019 & we were finally able to find workers to complete the project last month.  The mayor of our village along with the oldest person in our church (she's 95 yrs) cut the red ribbon on the door that now is ground level to allow wheelchair access.

I'll see you Tuesday for some Wisdom sharing.

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - aka WPSH

Eileen over at A Bracelet of Days is once again hosting the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt.  Just like this year's SPSH, Eileen has made a list that is quite doable for those in or out of lockdown & with a thought to social distancing & all that goes with a pandemic.    I hope you are going to join in with the fun, for some, for all, of the items on the list.  Thanks Eileen for organizing.

From Eileen's post; 

It's that time again. The Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt will run from December 1st 2020 to 31st March 2021; all photos must be your own work and must be taken between those dates, please.

There is a list of 20 prompts to find photos for, but up to three of these can be substituted using the alternative prompts at the end of the list if necessary. I've tried to think of prompts that can be found both indoors and outdoors, depending on local Covid restrictions but will add additional alternatives if it proves necessary.

Everyone is welcome to join in and remember, the most important part of the hunt is to have fun!

1. A set of three
2. Round and round
3. Peek inside
4. Glass
5. A treasured item
6. Horizontal
7. An opening
8. A sign of the times
9. Weather conditions
10. Work in progress
11. Measures
12. In the distance
13. Something beginning with C
14. One of many
15. Something with legs
16. A face
17. Comfort food
18. Something you do every day
19. Something yellow
20. Marking time

Alt A. In pieces

Alt B. Textured

Alt C. Black and white

The first link up will be in the first week of January. Does anyone want to start today? Go on then, and good luck 😀

Wisdom

 

 

 

"Faith & Fear ask you to believe in something you cannot see.   You choose."

                    ... Bob Proctor 

A pre-wish for a Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends on Thursday.

 

Me On A Monday - November 23rd

 Good Morning Everyone.

Yesterday was Stir Up Sunday - from the Book of Common Prayer (Anglican) "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."  

 Stir Up Sunday, always the Sunday before the 1st Advent, was & is important to me for various reasons but primarily it's a tradition within my family that connects me to my past, my present & hopefully my future.   My Gran brought a lot of her family/church  traditions with her when she moved from Wales to Canada & while my Mom & her were often at odds with each other, Stir Up Sunday was a tradition my Mom took part in.  My Gran would allow all of the grandchildren a stir of the Christmas pudding, which is said to bring good luck.  My Mother was not a Christmas pudding maker or liker,  so when she had her own kitchen, she would instead make her delicious Christmas cake & we would get a turn to stir that.  I still make my Mother's Christmas cake recipe & have only changed one ingredient - I add Grand Mariner liqueur (as the recipe calls for).  Neither of my parents were drinkers so alcohol was never added.   Are there any Christmas baking traditions that have been passed down to you that you make?

 

A sobering thought about COVID-19; our Prime Minister, Justine Trudeau told the nation on Friday, that a normal Christmas is just not possible this year.  The city of Toronto goes into the red category with restrictions of a lockdown as does the county of Peel for 28 days.  Our region, so far, has remained at the orange category.  As much as people are grumbling about the lockdowns, we need to remember it is our own fault, we just wouldn't follow the science, the medical advice.  Now all of us pay.  I'll say no more for now.

On a trip into town to collect a grocery order, I saw that the store had a row of fresh Christmas trees & other greenery on display.  What I am seeing every where in every way possible, are these gnomes, which I believe are of Nordic origin.  There are lots of local organizations doing online fund raising & one of the ways is to home create these evergreen gnomes.   Do you think they are cute?  Would you try to make one yourself?  Do you place a greenery pot at your front door?

 

I have caught up on my monthly One Little Word (OLW) exercises.  I feel a little bad for my 2020 OLW of Nourish; it's been a tough go making this word an active part of my life since most of this year has been spent in some form of pandemic lockdown or restrictions.  Usually by now, I have a couple of possible OLWs for the upcoming year rumbling around, but so far I have not got one single feeling for a specific word.  What about you & your OLW, was it a work in progress or a fell flat word?  Have you got your 2021 OLW picked as yet?

"do your best, while remembering your worth is not attached to what you accomplish."





 

Wisdom Wednesday - Change

"We do not lead by the example of our power, but by the power of our example."

                                ...President Elect, Joe Biden

which leads me to

"Change The World By Your Example, Not Your Opinion"

                            ... Paulo Coelho

Me On A Monday - November 16th

Good Morning,  I hope that everyone has enjoyed their morning beverage of choice.  

Sorry I'm late getting around to visit your blogs or posting mine.  We had a BIG storm yesterday that had 100/mph winds that knocked our power out on 3 occasions; 1 time the power was off for 5 hours - right at dinner into bed time.  It's temporarily repaired in our area & we will have a controlled power outage later this morning ... so now down to business.

It has been a week of many emotions.  Much of the news is dominated by worsening COVID new infection cases, everywhere.  I am not sure about you, but all this has me feeling very over whelmed with sadness, grief & anger.  I am not sleeping well.

And speaking of too much, I have seen so many F/B memes, many of which I totally agree with but one in particular stuck out for me.  Our health care workers are no longer the front line workers, they are our last defense & that we, each & every one of us, are the front line now - it is up to us to get these numbers under control.  I also found this week's Wisdom's quote among all the gloom about COVID.  Not to worry it is quite positive. I've printed it out & it's posted on the frig.

And speaking of positive, the county I live in, is now in the Orange category-Restrict,  because of all the positive tests for COVID.  Our Chief Medical Officer took a very hard line when reviewing the rising new cases & found the largest source of new infections in our region, were coming from the old order of Mennonites & since they will not/would not wear face masks or social distance, it was deemed necessary to close their schools & churches.  A tough but a necessary decision. Our medical officer is being heavily criticized for this, but she continues to work with the leaders of this community to find a resolution.  In the county just west of  us the rising numbers are attributed to the university students partying like it's 1999 ... (thanks Prince).  I've yet to see what measures are being taken.  It looks like Christmas will be very restrictive this year as I'm sure we'll be moving to a total lockdown.  Our local hospitals do not have that many ICU beds to begin with.

And speaking of Christmas, my good blog friend, Ruth at This West London Life, sent me some COVID Christmas journal boxes, which certainly cheered me up.  I spent a lot of time on the weekend finishing my 2019 December Daily album.  That felt good to have it finally done.

And speaking of blog friends, Eileen at A Bracelet of Days, posted last week her craving for cheese scones, which then created a need in me.  I baked up a small batch of cheese scones & oh my they were tasty.  Eileen has now had a craving for Thumbprint cookies, so I will bake some of them .  My waistline will need to watch these posts (lol).

And speaking of waistlines, I need to up my walking routines which have been only a few times in the last couple of weeks when I meet my friend at the fairgrounds. Mr Man hates to walk & I'm so bored walking alone.  But through my online Zoom bible study group, one of the ladies in my breakout group turns out, lives down the street from me & she likes to walk.  We have a walking, weather dependent, date for Wednesday afternoon. SO maybe I'll be inspired to walk more often.  

So that's my update for today, I'll see you Wednesday for wisdom sharing.  Be well, be careful, wear a mask & stay home.

Remember At The 11th Hour On The 11th Day of The 11th Month

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

  That mark our place; and in the sky

  The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

  Loved and were loved, and now we lie

      In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

  The torch; be yours to hold it high.

  If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

      In Flanders fields.

 

…Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae,MD